Virginia priests sign letter supporting celibacy

Published: 2003-10-01

ARLINGTON, Va. (CNS) -- Ninety priests from the Arlington Diocese have sent a letter to Bishop Wilton D. Gregory of Belleville, Ill., president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in strong support of mandatory priestly celibacy. In the Sept. 27 letter, the priests rejected a proposal advanced by Milwaukee priests in August that called for the ordination of married men to generate more vocations to the priesthood. The Milwaukee priests also sent their letter to Bishop Gregory. "Common sense and historical experience indicate ... that reducing the demands of the priesthood will not increase vocations, because lessening sacrifice never inspires men to offer their lives to Christ," the Arlington priests said. "In times of crisis, the wisdom and instinct of the church have always been to respond with greater sacrifice, not less. What will inspire more vocations is celibacy lived well, not celibacy set aside."

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